Protein-guided regulation of redox metabolic imbalance improves survival physiology in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality, characterized by severe inflammation, oxidative stress, impaired gas exchange, and progressive lung injury. Disruption of cellular redox homeostasis plays a central role in ARDS pathogenesis, making redox-regulatory mechanisms attractive therapeutic targets. Methods: This review evaluates experimental evidence on protein-mediated regulation of oxidative stress pathways in ARDS, focusing on proteins involved in antioxidant defense, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial signaling, and maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. Results: Current evidence indicates that key regulatory proteins modulate oxidative stress by activating endogenous antioxidant defense systems, regulating ROS production, and influencing mitochondrial signaling pathways. These mechanisms reduce oxidative damage and pulmonary inflammation while preserving cellular redox balance. Experimental studies further demonstrate that modulation of specific protein regulators enhances cellular resilience under hypoxic and inflammatory conditions characteristic of ARDS. Conclusions: Protein-mediated regulation of redox signaling represents a promising therapeutic strategy for ARDS. Targeting redox-regulatory proteins may attenuate oxidative stress, reduce lung inflammation, and improve cellular survival, supporting their potential as novel therapeutic targets. Further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to validate these findings and facilitate their translation into clinical practice.